Put right people in right places, WHO advises govt

Chatham House has expressed its commitment to supporting the Nigerian government in advancing the Universal Health Coverage, just as World Health Organisation advises Nigeria to ensure that right persons are appointed to occupy relevant positions.

Executive Director, Centre for Universal Health, Chatham House, Rob Yates, while pledging support for the Nigerian government, yesterday, at Health Policy Dialogue, noted that political commitment is critical for achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria.

He stated Chatham House’s willingness to support new state governors in advancing UHC agenda and stressed the need to also put in place financing, which is necessary in health reforms

Yates said Nigeria has a tremendous opportunity, considering the fact Tinubu has made a commitment to UHC, especially his commitment to removing the fuel subsidy and investing it in building human capital and education services.

On the need for right appointment, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said getting it right from the outset starts with putting the right people in the right place, adding that WHO actively participated in the health sector reform programme, which aim is to move Nigeria closer to its Universal Health Coverage aspirations.

Mulombo stated that the commitment of the present administration to adopt recommendations in the Presidential Health Reform Committee report, articulated in six components, is indeed a good starting point to ‘get it right from the outset’.

According to him, implementation of the components will see the health system strengthened to meet present-day challenges, including reorientation of PHC for improved service delivery, improved preparedness and response to pandemics and other health emergencies, and rethinking of solutions to the huge challenge of ensuring adequate, skilled and well-distributed health care workers in the midst of rising migration of critical professionals.

Mulombo observed that WHO recognises that engaging communities should be part of a comprehensive strategy to reorient health systems to meet the expectations and needs of populations, adding that anchoring the pursuit of health in engaged and empowered people and communities brings to life the commitment of PHC to refocus on the whole person and entire communities rather than diseases.